Device to facilitate removal of juvenile and female crabs from the inside of crab traps and method of use thereof

Abstract

A device that prevents female and juvenile crabs from becoming stuck in the upper portions of a crab trap is disclosed. In crab traps using angled tunnels, the upper portions of the trap provide a place for the young crab to hide from the larger males. Once in this area, however, the crab are difficult to remove. Many are often killed or injured during removal. To prevent this problem, a formed perforated shield is attached in the wedge-shaped area formed between the inside of the tunnel and the top of a crab trap. Two types of shields are disclosed. The first is an angled shield that conforms to the shape of the upper tunnel and the top of the trap. The shield fits into this wedge-shaped area to provide a smooth surface that makes it impossible for the crabs to find a place to secure a hold. The second device is simply a perforated, flat shield that fits across the space formed by the tunnel and the top of the trap. The shield has contoured ends to conform to the exact space being blocked. Both shields are attached to the crab pot using electrical wire ties placed through holes formed in the shields. Once the trap is returned to the surface, the crab located in the wedge portion (in the case of the first type shield) are simply dumped out, having no place to cling. In the second case, the crab cannot get stuck in the wedge portion and are thus readily removed from the trap. The shields can be made from any saltwater impervious material such as fiberglass plastics, or corrosion resistant or treated metal.

I claim: 
     
       1. A device to prevent crab from becoming stuck in a crab trap having four walls, a top and a bottom, and having a wedge space portion having an upper part and a lower part formed between a tunnel entrance in said trap and the top of said trap, said device comprising: a) a shield, having a solid, unbroken, smooth surface, having an upper portion that conforms to the length and width of the upper part of the wedge space portion and a lower portion molded to conform to the length and width of the lower part of the wedge space portion, said shield being removably installed between the top of said crab pot and the tunnel entrance of said crab pot; and   b) means to secure said shield in said crab pot.   
     
     
       2. The device of claim 1 wherein said means to secure said shield in said crab pot comprise electrical wire ties placed through holes provided in said shield. 
     
     
       3. The device of claim 1 wherein said shield has curved edges to provide additional strength. 
     
     
       4. The device of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of thin slot means cut into said shield to permit water to pass through said shield. 
     
     
       5. A device to prevent crab from becoming stuck in a crab trap having four walls, a top and a bottom and having a wedge space portion formed between a tunnel entrance in said trap and the top of said trap, said wedge space having a rectangular opening at one end, said device comprising: a) a shield, having a solid, unbroken, smooth surface, and being molded to conform to the rectangular opening existing in said crab pot between the top of said crab pot and the tunnel entrance of said crab pot, such that said shield completely covers said rectangular opening; and   b) means to secure said shield in said crab pot.   
     
     
       6. The device of claim 5 wherein said means to secure said shield in said crab pot comprise electrical wire ties placed through holes provided in said shield. 
     
     
       7. The device of claim 6 wherein said shield has curved edges to provide additional strength. 
     
     
       8. The device of claim 6 further comprising a plurality of thin slot means cut into said shield to permit water to pass through said shield. 
     
     
       9. A method of preventing crab from becoming stuck in a crab trap having four walls, a top and a bottom and having a wedge space portion formed between a tunnel entrance in said trap and the top of said trap, said method comprising the steps of: a) placing a shield, having a solid, unbroken surface, having an upper portion that conforms to the length and width of the upper part of the wedge space portion and a lower portion molded to conform to the length and width of the lower part of the wedge space portion between the top of said crab pot and the tunnel entrance of said crab pot; and   b) securing said shield in said crab pot to prevent said shield from becoming dislodged.   
     
     
       10. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of securing said shield in said crab pot comprises tying the shield to the crab pot with electrical wire ties placed through holes provided in said shield. 
     
     
       11. A method of preventing crab from becoming stuck in a crab trap having four walls, a top and a bottom and having a wedge space portion formed between a tunnel entrance in said trap and the top of said trap, said wedge space having a rectangular opening at one end, said method comprising the steps of: a) placing a shield having a solid, unbroken, smooth surface, and being molded to conform to the rectangular opening existing in said crab pot between the top of said crab pot and the tunnel entrance of said crab pot, such that said shield completely covers said rectangular opening between the top of said crab pot and the tunnel entrance of said crab pot; and   b) securing said shield in said crab pot to prevent said shield from becoming dislodged.   
     
     
       12. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of securing said shield in said crab pot comprises tying the shield to the crab pot with electrical wire ties placed through holes provided in said shield.